When fishing secluded areas I always have a side arm. In an estimated 500 trips over the past 10 years I have pulled it once and unsapped the holster another. In the summer of 99 a bear had a strong interest in me. Yelling, stick waving, boulder tossing, and a warning shot had no effect in deterring the animal. Too say I wasn't scared would be a lie. I was scared shiatless. Let me tell you, a one minute stand off at twenty feet seems like all eternity. At some point in that ordeal the bear obviosly decided it was in his best interests to leave the seen. The unsnapped incident was when I was returning to my vehicle while fishing. I was about 100 yards out and was observing a car prowler at work, it was 6:00 in the morning out in the sticks. Fortunately there was no confrontation, he notice me coming and drove off.

When fishing populated areas I leave the gun at home. I have found that my two feet are my best defense, if a situation ever arises in one of these areas I walk away.

LT